title: Cost of noninfectious comorbidities in patients with HIV.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that the increased prevalence of noninfectious comorbidities (NICMs) observed among HIV-infected patients may result in increased direct costs of medical care compared to the general population. Our objective was to provide estimates of and describe factors contributing to direct costs for medical care among HIV-infected patients, focusing on NICM care expenditure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study analyzing direct medical care costs in 2009. Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-experienced HIV-infected patients (cases) were compared to age, sex, and race-matched adults from the general population, included in the CINECA ARNO database (controls). NICMs evaluated included cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bone fractures, and renal failure. Medical care cost information evaluated included pharmacy, outpatient, and inpatient hospital expenditures. Linear regression models were constructed to evaluate predictors of total care cost for the controls and cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2854 cases and 8562 controls. Mean age was 46 years and 37% were women. We analyzed data from 29,275 drug prescription records. Positive predictors of health care cost in the overall population: HIV infection (β = 2878; confidence interval (CI) = 2001-3755); polypathology (β = 8911; CI = 8356-9466); age (β = 62; CI = 45-79); and ART exposure (β = 18,773; CI = 17,873-19,672). Predictors of health care cost among cases: Center for Disease Control group C (β = 1548; CI = 330-2766); polypathology (β = 11,081; CI = 9447-12,716); age < 50 years (β = 1903; CI = 542-3264); protease inhibitor exposure (per month of use; β = 69; CI = 53-85); CD4 count < 200 cells/mm(3) (β = 5438; CI = 3082-7795); and ART drug change (per change; β = 911; CI = 716-1106).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total cost of medical care is higher in cases than controls. Lower medical costs associated with higher CD4 strata are offset by increases in the care costs needed for advancing age, particularly for NICMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guaraldi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zona
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menozzi
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bagni
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zoboli
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palella
keywords: HIV; antiretroviral therapy; noninfectious comorbidities; pharmacoeconomics